Moving to Puerto Rico from Italy

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Italy to Puerto Rico — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Italy to Puerto Rico, you would find that Puerto Rico is 0.8% more expensive than Italy overall. A €65,577 salary in Italy would need to be roughly $73,417 in Puerto Rico to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in English and Spanish.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Italy to Puerto Rico.

What does your salary buy?

€65,577 $73,417

To maintain the same standard of living in Puerto Rico

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 19.9% less

Groceries

pay 32.3% more

Transportation

pay 31.2% less

Housing

pay 38.6% more

Childcare

pay 8.5% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 8.5% more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 EUR = 1.14 USD (July 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Italy to Puerto Rico, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
82 ↓ 57% vs 2015

people born in Italy live in Puerto Rico · UN DESA

Who's moving to Puerto Rico?

Top countries of origin for Puerto Rico's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Italy to Puerto Rico.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2023

per 100,000 people per year

IT
0.6
PR
14.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

IT
5.0
PR
12.5

Italy performs better than Puerto Rico across all safety metrics.

What about the environment?

CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

IT
5.1t
PR
4.8t

Puerto Rico performs significantly better than Italy across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

IT
31.5
PR
21.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

IT
29.6%
PR
19.5%

Puerto Rico generally does better on infrastructure, though Italy leads in broadband per 100 people.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

IT
7.6%
PR
6.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

IT
$52,700
PR
$43,000

Puerto Rico generally does better on employment & economy, though Italy leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

IT
82.6 yrs
PR
81.7 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

IT
3.2
PR
6.0

Italy performs better than Puerto Rico across all family life metrics.

Data: Italian Revenue Agency, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Italy and Puerto Rico. To live, work, or study long-term in Puerto Rico, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Puerto Rico's immigration authority.

Italy passport

Italy passport holder visiting Puerto Rico

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Italy passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter Puerto Rico.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Puerto Rico than Italy?

Costs in Puerto Rico and Italy are broadly similar overall, though categories like rent and dining differ between cities.

How much money do I need to move to Puerto Rico?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly $18,354 in Puerto Rico on a €65,577 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Puerto Rico?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Puerto Rico has 21.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Puerto Rico safe for expats?

Italy performs better than Puerto Rico across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Puerto Rico is 14.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.6 in Italy.

What language do they speak in Puerto Rico?

The official languages in Puerto Rico are English and Spanish. In Italy, the official languages are Catalan and Italian.

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At a Glance

IT PR
Population 61,095,551 3,098,423
Currency Euro (€) United States Dollar ($)
Languages Catalan, Italian English, Spanish
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +39 +1
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112